This is VERY true!!!
I STILL remember how my awful 4th grade teacher treated us when we got stuff wrong. Again, she was AWFUL!!!! We all hated her!
That is why I say things like “Close, but not quite. Who can them out?” or “No, but that’s okay. It’s okay to be wrong sometimes.”
Kids need encouragement.
#TeacherLife #BestJobEver
A student gives a wrong answer. Before calling on someone else, find out how they got there. A quick “Talk me through your thinking” might reveal a missed step, a misunderstood question, or an approach that almost worked.
You don’t have to pretend the answer is correct or turn every mistake into a long class discussion. Correct it clearly. When it makes sense, give the student a chance to try the next step. You can keep the lesson moving while showing students that an incorrect answer doesn’t have to end their participation.